The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Thomas Willisel (bap. 1621 - d. 1675?)

Field naturalist and source of specimens for various collectors, including the Royal Society (Hunter, 41). Aubrey gives an account of Willisel's beginning as a collector of plant specimens:
Lying at St James's (a garrison then I thinke), he happened to go along with some simplers. He liked it so well that he desired to goe with them as often as they went, and tooke such a fancy to it that in a short time he became a good botanist. He was a lusty fellow, and had an admirable sight, which is of great use for a simpler; was as hardy as a Highlander; all the clothes on his back not worth ten groates, an excellent marksman, and would maintain himselfe with his dog and his gun, and his fishing-line. The botanists of London did much encourage him, and employed him all over England, Scotland, and good part of Ireland, if not all; where he made brave discoveries, for which his name will ever be remembered in herballs. If he saw a strange fowle or bird, or a fish, he would have it and case it (Aubrey, 46).
Among those employers were Robert Morison, who sent him "into several parts beyond sea, to make a collection of what plants may further the designed perfection of that garden" of St. James's Park and Christopher Merret, who employed Willisel to collect plants, animals, and minerals for his Pinax and who was consulted by the Royal Society regarding his abilities as a "botanic traveller" (Birch, I.358).

In a Society meeting on 20 May 1669, evidently based on Merret's recommendation, it was moved that an advance of £10 be paid to Willisel for a one year term, beginning retroactively on 25 March of that year, with a total compensation of £30 (Birch, I.371). A certificate of authorization was drawn up and presented on June 10:
These are to certify all, whom it may concerne, that the bearer hereof, Thomas Willisel, is employed by the President, Council, and Fellows of the Royal Society of London for improving natural knowledge, to go into several parts of His Majesty's dominions for purposes suitable to their Institution, according to authority unto them on this behalf given by his sacred Majesty that now is: And they earnestly recommend him to all generous and ingenuous spirits, desiring, that as occasion shall require, they will assist him in promoting a work so generally beneficial to all mankind (378-9).
Another installment of £10 was approved on 11 October, and Charles Howard, Jonathon Goddard, Christopher Merret, and Robert Hooke--"or any two or more of them"--were commissioned to "meet and direct the said Thomas Willisel in his employment of farther collecting such plants, birds, fishes, and minerals, and in such part of his Majesty's kingdoms, as they shall think best for use of the society; and that the said Thomas Willisel, at his return, first of all attend the president, and receive orders from him about the collection, which he shall then have made" (Birch, I.395 citing Letter Book, vol. 3, p.152). It was determined at the same meeting "[t]hat Dr. Merret be desired to send the collection made by Thomas Willisel in his first voyage, to the society at their next meeting in Arundel-house Octob. 21, 1669" (396). Willisel himself fulfilled this obligation, bringing "in his collection of plants gathered in several parts of England and Scotland, together with some rare Scottish birds and fishes" (398). That summer, John Ray met Willisel, who showed him several "rare plants" he had found. Like Merret, Ray was impressed, describing Willisel as "the fittest man for such a purpose that I know in England, both for his skill and industry" (Ray, 340). He also acquired a specimen from Willisel: "The Red Germane Catch-flie" collected "upon the Rocks in Edinburgh-Park" (Ray, 202).

After returning from his second journey, Willisel presented to the Society, on 24 February 1670, "several minerals, fishes, and birds, which he had collected. Among the birds, which he had me with in Ireland, there were some with three beaks, having two passages, one of which was thought by Dr. [Francis] Glisson to serve for breathing, the other for swallowing" (Birch I.425). In the same meeting, in preparation for his next foray, the Society directed Dr. Pope, Mr. Jeffreys, and Hooke to "inform ... Willisel of such natural things, as may be had in England, and were yet wanting in the society's repository, and that ... [he] take order and directions from them what to inquire after and bring home for future" (426). At the same meeting, "Sir Robert Moray was desired to take with him for a trial some of the metal, which Thomas Willisel said was called new metal, found in Yorkshire upon Ingelberry-hill, which Sir Robert did accordingly" (426). In a meeting on 24 March 1670, Willisel "brought in a small collection of sea-plants lately gathered by him on the sea-shore of Kent" (431). This, evidently, brought Willisel's activities for the Royal Society to an end.


Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/29590 Other biography: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18530912 Acquirer
Botanist
 Relevant locations: Birth place in Burnley, Lancashire
 Relationships: Thomas Willisel was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Robert Hooke (18 Jul 1635-3 Mar 1703)
Thomas Willisel was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Charles Howard (1630-1713)
Thomas Willisel was a employed by Christopher Merret (16 Feb 1614/5-19 Aug 1695)
Thomas Willisel was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Robert Moray (c.1608/9-1673)
Thomas Willisel was a employed by Robert Morison (1620-1683)
Thomas Willisel was a source of object(s) for Royal Society (-)

 Linked print sources: as Mentioned or referenced by - Science and Society in Restoration England.
as Mentions or references - Catalogus plantarum Angliæ, et insularum adjacentium tum indigenas, tum in agris passim cultas complectens. In quo præter synonyma necessaria facultates quoque summatim traduntur, unà cum observationibus & experimentis novis medicis & physicis.
as Mentions or references - Further correspondence of John Ray.
as Mentions or references - The Correspondence of John Ray: consisting of selections from the Philosophical Letters Published by Dr. Derham.
as Mentions or references - The History of the Royal Society of London for Improving of Natural Knowledge ... In which the most considerable of those papers communicated to the Society, which have hitherto not been published, are inserted in their proper order, as a supplement to the Philosophical Transactions .
as Mentions or references - The natural history of Wiltshire by John Aubrey, F.R. S.: written between 1656 and 1691.
 References in Documents:
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) A. 742. Acrosticon parvum Septentrionale. Adiantum ανρόχηον seu furcatum Thal. 5. Filicula saxatilis corniculata El. Bot. 432. & Instit. Rei Herb. 542. Filix saxatilis I B. prodr. 114. pl. 16. sax. Tragi. Lugd. 1226. Fig. I B. l. 37. p. 747. Fig. Chabr. 556. Fig. 2. Park 1045. Fig. Ray H. Pl. 141. cap. 7. H. OX. Sect. 14. p. 585. Tab. 5. Fig. nova 23. Holostium alterum Adv. 17. Fig. Observed in Wales by the Curious Mr. Edward Lloyd and on the Rocks of Edinburgh Park by Thomas Willisel and since him by my Friend Mr. James Sutherland Superintendant of the Physick Garden of that City, from whence he very lately sent it me. I have also had it from Norway.